Gaddafi: Expect more riots

2006-03-20 21:31

Rome - Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi says Libyans are expected to carry out more attacks on Italian interests in the North African country until Rome pays for damages caused during its colonial rule early last century.

Eleven people were killed in clashes with the police when angry crowds tried to storm the Italian consulate in Benghazi in February during protests against Danish cartoons lampooning the Prophet Muhammad.

Gaddafi said his government could not control anti-Italian actions like the riots outside the consulate.

When asked if other such attacks could happen, Gaddafi said: "It is to be expected, unfortunately, it's out of (government) control."

Gaddafi said earlier this month that the demonstrations were not over the cartoons, but because Libyans hate Italy for its failure to compensate them for its 1911-1951 occupation.

Gaddafi said Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi had agreed to pay the compensation when he visited Libya in 2004 to inaugurate a pipeline to transport gas across the Mediterranean - part of a thawing of frosty relations between the two countries.

"Once that's been paid, a page will be turned and the countries will have a privileged relationship," he said.

He did not specify how much compensation he expected and Berlusconi has not given details of the deal.

- Reuters